Winding device for winding rolls of strips or ribbons

ABSTRACT

There is disclosed a fully automatic winding device for winding material in ribbon or strip form, particularly strips or ribbons made of metal foil for producing tightly wound rolls of such material. The device comprises at least one take-up spindle and at least one take-up spool for winding the material thereupon. The device further comprises a pressure roller for pressing already wound-up material against the underlying windings of the material or against the spool itself. The take-up spindle is journaled freely rotatable and floating. It is driven by the pressure roller which in turn is driven and serves to pull the material to be wound up from a supply spool.

I Umted States Patent 1 1 3,885,749 Skacel 1 May 27, 1975 [S4] WINDING DEVICE FOR WINDING ROLLS 3,727,853 4/1973 Kinoshita 242/56 A f STRIPSSORhRHZBZNS FOREIGN PATENTS on APPLICATIONS nventor: tep 8n kacel, l U d d Augustin-Mulldorf, Germany I m 8 mg om /56 A [73] Assignee: Waldmann-Verpackung KG, Primary Examiner-Edward J. McCarthy Altenberg, Germany Attorney, Agent, or FirmI-lane, Baxley & Spiecens [22] Filed: Mar. 7, 1973 211 App]. No.: 338,908 [571 ABSTRACT There is disclosed a fully automatic winding device for [30] Foreign Application Priority Data winding material in ribbon or strip form, particularly M 8 1972 G 22*1076 strips or ribbons made of metal foIl for producing ermany tightly wound rolls of such material. The device comprises at least one takeup spindle and at least one 2% 3 take-up spool for winding the material thereupon. The i 242 56 A 64 67 3 R device further comprises a pressure roller for pressing l 0 can: l already wound-up material against the underlying windings of the material or against the spool itself. [56] References cued The take-up spindle is journaled freely rotatable and UNITED STATES PATENTS floating. It is driven by the pressure roller which in 1,750,487 3/1930 Okura 242/64 turn is driven and serves to pull the material to be 2 668,675 2/1954 Wolfe 242/56 A wound up from a supply spool, 2,787,427 4/l957 Marczinesin 242/56 A 3,355,120 11/1967 Huck .1 242/64 29 Claims, 14 Drawing Figures mam Iii-Y2? m5 885749 Fig. 38

Fig. 3

Fig.3A

PATENIED MAY 2 7 i975 SHEET PATENTE .KY 2 7 i975 SHEET PATENTEB MAY 2 7 I875 SHEET WINDING DEVICE FOR WINDING ROLLS OF STRIPS R RIBBONS The invention relates to a fully automatic winding device for winding up strips or ribbons, particularly strips of metal or plastic foil for the purpose of producing finished rolls of wound-up material.

BACKGROUND Winding devices of the general type above referred to as now known comprise a spindle for a take-up spool which is driven with a constant speed. With such devices the gradually increasing diameter of the take-up spool and of the material wound thereupon causes a corresponding increase of velocity with which the material is wound upon the spool. As a result of such increase of the winding velocity of the strips or ribbons the pull tension with which the material is wound-up changes continuously as the winding operation progresses. To compensate for such increase in tension, suitable retarding means such as brakes or costly speed controls must be provided to effect a constant reduction of the rotational speed of the wind-up spindle. The continuous change in the pull tension tends to cause, especially with stretchable and thin foils or similar material, wrinkles, a reduction of the width of the foil or similar material, deformed edges due to lateral sliding of the material to be wound up and also different thickness of the wound-up layer of material on a finished roll.

The aforepointed out actions of the increasing winding speed requires that the winding velocity is maintained at a speed of about 100 meters per minute or even less. The resulting low output per hour of operation and the difficulties encountered with the control of the winding operation itself, and the constructive arrangement of winding devices as heretofore known do not produce the desired quality of the finished rolls of strips or ribbons. As a result, the installation of special auxiliary devices is often necessary to obtain the economically required output and, of course, such auxiliary devices increase the over-all costs of the winding operation.

THE INVENTION It is an object of the invention to provide a novel and improved winding device of the general kind above referred to, with which from a supply spool a plurality of smaller individual rolls can be produced and which assures that drawing the material from the supply spool is continuous and in a satisfactory manner and, further, that the produced individual small spools are fully acceptable with respect to the material wound thereupon.

To obtain a practical and continually operating winding device, several floatingly supported take-up spindles are mounted on a turret head at circumferentially uniform spacing on a circle concentric with respect to the rotational axis of the turret head.

Two pressure rollers are driven without slippage and with a substantially uniform circumferential speed so that the material to be wound is drawn by the driven pressure rollers in coaction with the take-up spindle which in turn is driven by the rollers. The material is thus pulled off from an equally driven supply spool at a continuously controlled pull tension.

With winding devices as heretofore known, the takeup spindle is driven. In contradistinction thereto, the winding device according to the invention provides that both pressure rollers are driven without slippage and the rollers in turn drive the freely rotatable take-up spindle. Since the diameter of the pressure rollers remains constant, the circumferential speed of the pressure rollers also remains the same when, as is the case, the rollers are driven with constant rpm. Hence, the circumferential speed of the take-up spindle and thus also that of the material to be wound upon the spindle remains constant, thereby obtaining a uniform and constant speed of the winding up of the material.

The take-off spindle of the supply spool is also freely rotatably and floatingly supported and is equipped with a retaining device. This device prevents axial or radial sliding of the supply spool on its spindle.

The structural arrangement of the take-off spindle and of the retaining device assure a smooth rolling off of the material without the heretofore generally used braking means such as friction braking means and the time-consuming adaptation of the rim of the supply spool to the path of the material during the winding operation. The supply spool is thus secured to its spindle and also secured against becoming loose during a winding operation.

During the winding operation the circumferential surface of the supply spool, that is, not the take-off spindle itself, is driven by a driving device for effecting circumferential drive of the supply spool. This device, for instance an endless belt, adapts itself automatically to the varying diameter of the supply spool and is pressure-loaded, for instance by hydraulic, pneumatically, mechanically or electrically operated auxiliary devices or a combination of such devices.

By means of such driving device which in effect functions as drive and also as brake, a uniform take-off speed from the supply spool and also a uniform pull tension are assured, even if the supply spool is wound so that it is somewhat unround, conical or has loose windings, or if the edges of the material on the spool are somewhat damaged.

The afore-referred to driving arrangement is particularly advantageous when the material consists of foils which are very thin and stretchable since the pull tension during the winding operation is not affected by high swinging moments of brakes, varying friction coefficients or gradual reduction of the outer diameter of the supply spool.

A further advantage of the described driving arrangement is that the take-off spindle and the driving arrangement are connected to a laterally displaceable unit and are further connected to an automatically functioning control of the edges of the path of the material. The uncontrollable sliding of the edges of the material if the supply spool is irregularly wound is thus prevented.

Both pressure rollers and the endless driving belt of the driving arrangement for the circumferential driving of the supply spool are driven from a common driving device which includes two variable speed drive means with gradual speed adjustment.

The driving shaft of one gradually speed variable drive means via a pulley and a slipless drive belt drives both pressure rollers.

The driven shaft of the second gradually speed variable drive means drives via a pulley and a slipless drive belt the endless driving belt of the circumferential drive for the supply spool.

To maintain constant the pull tension in the path of the material a so-called floating or idling roller" is disposed between the take-off point (supply spool) and the take-up point. This floating roller applies pull to the path of the material by means of a pre-selected weight load thereby controlling the pull tension. When changes in the pull tension occur, the floating roller" automatically regulates such changes by controlling the rotational speed of the second gradually variable speed drive means. Increasing or reducing the rotational speed of the second drive means for the supply spool effects a corresponding change in the circumferential speed of the endless drive belt and thus also the circumferential speed of the supply spool. Hence, this arrangement effects a constant adaptation of the circumferential speed of the supply spool to the constant speed of the material as it is being wound and also to the constant pull tension.

1n the event that with a winding device according to the invention in which several wind up spindles are freely rotatable on a turret head, one roller already wound with material leaves the correct wind up position, it must be assured that the material on such roller is maintained tight until the material is cut off and the end of the material remaining on the roller is gripped.

An embodiment of the invention which makes this requirement possible is of particular practical importance. The embodiment provides that the spindles at their ends facing the turret head mount a drive wheel and that a driving device is provided so that each of the spindles can be driven by this driving device when the spindle has left the wind up position.

According to a preferred embodiment of the winding device, the driving device takes over the drive of the corresponding spindle in that such spindle or a wound roll fitted thereupon is no longer driven by the driven pressure roller. Preferably, the driving device consists of at least one further belt pulley and a driving belt.

With the just described preferred embodiment of a winding device according to the invention, the separation or cutting of the material is effected automatically and it is also automatically assured that the new leading end obtained by cutting or separating the material is brought to the next following wind up spindle or roll thereon. For this purpose at least one of a smaller one of the pressure rollers is temporarily provided with a feed-in device for engaging said roller. This feed-in device is preferably loaded by springs and/or hydraulic and/or pneumatically operated auxiliary means similar to those used for the pressure rollers.

Cutting of the material is effected by suitable means such as a serrated knife or glowing wire. During such cutting the feed-in device for the material is pressed by a pressure means against the driven smaller pressure roller. As a result, the leading end of the material for the next spindle or roll to be wound is gripped and is wrapped about a sleeve on the spindle by the feed-in device, which is preferably disposed underneath the respective roll.

To avoid that the take-up spindle for the next winding operation need not be accelerated from zero speed to the required circumferential speed within a fraction of a second, a speed acceleration device is provided which accelerates the take-up spindle possible with a sleeve thereon to the required rotational speed.

in the event that a winding device according to the invention is equipped with several take-up spindles which are freely rotatably and floatingly mounted on the turret head and that one already wound roll leaves its wind-up position, it must be assured that the wound up material on such roll is not loosened and again becomes unwound. To prevent such unwinding and loosening, the partly or completely wound roll must be held during the cutting or separating of the material and moreover simultaneously with reaching the next position provisions must be made so that loosening of the material is prevented. The hertofore known winding devices are so constructed that retention of the material in its tight and correctly wound condition could not be accomplished.

The winding device according to the invention permits convenient retention of the wound up material by the application of adhesive or wrapping a holding strip about the roll. It is merely necessary that above the wind up position a device is provided which by means of an adhesive strip or a label which may be printed if desired, the wound roll while still on the wind up spindle is wrapped or held together by adhesive. Obviously, such glueing or tying prevents the loosening of the wound material.

Even if there is no loosening of the wound up material on the roll, it may be required for advertising or informative reasons to wrap the finished rolls with a suitably printed or decorated band for the purpose of making the roll more attractive to a potential customer. For this purpose a wrapping device is mounted above the wind up spindle station similar to the mounting of the glueing device. Such printing or decorating device effects printing or decorating of a finished roll simultaneously with the arrival of the roll at the location of the printing or decorating device.

To effect glueing or wrapping, the wind up or take-up spindle with the finished roll thereon must be driven. Such driving is effected by a driving device and the already previously mentioned driving wheel on the back side of the turret head which is fixedly coupled to the wind up spindle. After completion of the glueing or wrapping operation is is necessary that the roll and the wind up spindle must be readied for the next operation. For this purpose the glueing device and also the wrapping device are automatically removed from the path of the rolls and the wind up spindles.

After a roll or spindle is fully wound, cut loose, and if desired, glued, wrapped or printed, the same must be reliably and continually removed from the respective freely rotatable and floatingly supported wind up spindle.

With winding devices as heretofore known, this step is effected by grippers and/or laterally displaceable support cones which support the roll during the wind ing thereof. The gripper may damage the surface or the edges of the finished roll, depending upon the type or properties of the material to be wound. If only support cones are used and there are no grippers, the support cone is released by lateral displacement to drop into a container or upon a conveyor band. Depending upon the properties of the sleeve upon which the material has been wound and the structure of the support cone, it can occur that the wound up spool remains hung up on the cone thereby causing an interruption of the operation.

According to a preferred embodiment of the winding device according to the invention, disassembly is effected by automatic loosening of the retaining device incorporated in the wind up spindle. Such loosening first releases at the sleeve upon which the material has been wound. This operation is effected for pressing in the end of the slidablc bolt behind the driving wheel which is fixedly secured to the wind up spindle. Such pressing in of the bolt may be effected hydraulically, mechanically, electrically, pneumatically, or by a combination of this type of means.

After pressing in the displaceable bolt for the release of the wound roll, a yieldably mounted fork-shaped stripper encompasses the wind-up spindle at an angle of about 180 and presses against the sleeve for the roll but not against the edge of the wound up material on the sleeve, as such pressure might cause damage to the material. By the pressure of the fork-shaped member against the sleeve, the wound spool is transferred to a conveyor band or fed into a carton placed in position for storing finished rolls therein.

The fork-shaped stripper is constructively so arranged that it is capable of moving not only axially for stripping a finished roll but also capable of performing a radial movement. This latter movement removes the fork-shaped stripper from the circular path ofthe windup spindle to permit return of the stripper into its initial position. After reaching this initial position, the stripper is pressed against the next following wind-up spindle and now encompasses that spindle at about an l80 angle for stripping the next finished roll. All the operational movements of the fork-shaped stripper as hereinbefore described are automatic.

With winding devices as heretofore known in the art, the sliding of empty sleeves into the wind up spindle is not used because a floatingly supported wind up spindle with retaining device is not present. Moreover, the automatic device on the storage container for sleeve for continuously moving empty sleeves into position for sliding the same on a wind up spindle is not present.

With the just described preferred embodiment of the winding device according to the invention, an empty sleeve is axially slid upon a bare wind up spindle and positioned to receive an empty sleeve.

The sliding ofa sleeve upon a spindle is automatically effected by applying the required force (hydraulic, mechanical, electrical or pneumatic) whereby the sleeve and the spindle are correctly positioned, that is, the location of the sleeve is adapted to the path which the material follows during the winding operation.

After pressing in the slidable bolt for releasing the retaining means and also releasing the wind up spindle for frictionless receipt of an empty sleeve, a finger which is axially movable and also radially movable about a turning point pushes an empty sleeve into the ready position upon the respective wind up spindle.

The point of rotation or pivotal movement for the radial movement of the fork-shaped stripper and for the just mentioned finger is common for both the stripper and the finger, that is, they are seated on a common shaft extending through the stripper and the finger.

After sliding the sleeve upon the spindle the holder for the finger is pivoted radially outwardly and such movement is followed by the axial return of the finger into its starting position while the finger is still in its pivoted out position. Only after returning in its starting position the finger pivots hack into its initial position to be ready for sliding the next sleeve into its position on the wind up spindle.

Simultaneously, the slidable bolt behind the wind up spindle with the driving wheel secured thereto behind the turret head is released whereby the retaining means for locking the sleeve upon the wind up spindle is acti vated.

To assure a smooth and trouble-free winding operation by the winding device according to the invention, an uninterrupted feed of empty sleeves is necessary.

The sleeve dispenser of the sleeve storage container or bin is equipped with an electrical, pneumatic. mechanical means or by a combination of these types of means activated fail detectors. This detector in combination with a feeding device mounted on the storage bin activates the feed device, thereby filling the gap in the feed of empty sleeves as sensed by the detector.

It is often necessary or at least desirable to upgrade or to change ribbon or strip shaped material either bcfore or during the winding operation as has already been indicated before. With winding devices as heretofore known such operation is not possible.

According to a preferred embodiment of a winding device according to the invention, upgrading or changing of the material to be wound can be effected. The suitable location for upgrading or changing devices is between the supply spool and the idling or floating rol- Ier.

Each one of the described devices is equipped with its own gradually speed adjustable drive and is driven by the afore-described device or as described coupled to one of the aforedescribed drive means.

Other and further objects, features and advantages of the invention will be pointed out hereinafter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION In the accompanying drawing an embodiment of the invention is shown by way of illustration and not by way of limitation.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic elevational view of a winding device according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic view of drive means for the winding device according to FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic front view of a speed con trol mechanism for the drive means according to FIG- FIGS. 3A and 3B are right-hand and left-hand Sid views of FIG. 3;

FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic view of an essential component of a fully automatic mechanism for cutting of wound material;

FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic view of a winding station or position during the fully automatic separation of the wound up material and the catching of the lead end f a new supply of material;

FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic view of drive means for gripping the trailing end of the material after Completion of the winding operation, said drive means being essential components for holding together finished rolls by means ofa strip of adhesive material or for wrapping the finished rolls with a protective strip and also for the printing of a finished roll;

FIG. 7 is a diagrammatic side view of a fully automatic stripping device for removing finished rolls from a wind-up spindle and feeding such rolls to a conveyor;

FIG. 7a is a 7A view of FIG. 7;

FIG. 8 is a diagrammatic side view of a storage container or bin for sleeves or tubes for winding thereupon rolls and of a device for continuously feeding sleeves or tubes to the storage container;

FIG. 8A is a front view of FIG. 8;

FIG 9 is a diagrammatic bottom view ofa device for sliding sleeves or tubes upon a wind-up spindle. and

FIG. 9A is a front view of FIG. 9.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Refc'ring now to the figures in detail. and first to FIG. I, as it is indicated in this figure the winding device according to the invention serves for winding rolls of strip or ribbonshaped material 1 and in particular. for winding rolls of foils made of metal or plastic.

The device as exemplified comprises by way of example six wind-up spindles 3 each for winding the material upon a core sleeve 2 and two pressure rolls 4 and for pressing the material 1 against the wall of sleeve 2, or against the material already wound upon the sleeve.

The fully automatic winding device winds a selected length of material. depending upon the specific properties of the material to be wound up, upon sleeves 2 or without the use of such sleeves directly upon wind-up spindles 3. As a matter of convenience, the numeral 2" is herein applied to a roll of material and also to the sleeve itself as a roll may be wound with or without a core sleeve. (See the enlarged fragmentary view of a spindle 3 as part of FIG. I).

The wind'up spindles 3 are journaled freely rotatable and flying on an also flyingly journaled turret head 6. The pressure rollers 4 and 5 are driven and the material 1 to be wound up is pulled off from a supply spool or roll 7. As it is shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 5 and 6, pressure roller 5 in conjunction with spindle 3 or roll 2 driven by roller 5 pull material from a supply spool 7. An arrow 8 in FIG. 1 indicates the rotational direction of turret 6 and that the wind-up spindles 3 are alternately movable into the winding position by the rotation of turret head 6. FIG. 1 also shows that the spindles 3 are located at uniform intervals on a circle 9 which is con' centric with the rotational axis of turret head 6. It is not shown that the spools or sleeves 2 can be arrested in any position on spindles 3.

FIG. 1 further shows that pressure rollers 4 and 5 are pneumatically pressure loaded, namely by pressure air fed by cylinder-piston assemblies 10, that is, the rollers are pivotal about pivot axes II and that a compensating roller 12 is disposed ahead of pressure roller 5 pulling material I from spool 7.

Finally, FIG. 1 shows that supply spool 7 is peripherally driven by an endless belt 13. This belt is part of a peripherally operating driving device which further comprises a holder 15 and guide pulleys 14. The holder is pivotal about a pivot pin 16 which also serves as a drive shaft for guide pulleys I4 and the endless belt 13. The holder is pivotally coupled via a pivot pin 18 to a pressure air operated cylinder-piston system 17.

Referring now to FIG. 2. this figure shows that the drive required for winding up material I comprises a constant speed electric motor 21 which may be equipped with a suitable and conventional brake mechanism. and two sliplessly working gcarings 19 and 20. the transmission ratio of which can be gradually varied. Motor 2] drives drive shaft 25 of the gradually adjustable gcarings 19 and 20 via two slipless belts 23 and two sliplessly operating driving pulleys 24.

Drive shaft 26 of gearing [9 drives pressure rollers 4 and 5 via a sliplessly operating pulley 27 and the slip- 8 lcssly operating belt 29, and further by sliplessly operating pulleys 30, 32, 34 and 36 and sliplessly operating belts 31, 33 and 35.

Drive shaft 26 of gearing 20 drives via a sliplessly opcrating pulley 28, and a sliplessly operating belt 39 the also sliplessly operating drive pulley 40 which in turn drives shaft I6 and thus guide rolls l4 and the endless belt I3.

FIG. 2 shows that the exemplified drive for effecting winding of material comprises sliplessly operating components, namely belts, driving pulleys, gradually speed variable gearings l9 and 20 and drive motor 21 all joined to form a driving unit.

The driving unit according to FIG. 2 permits a constant, that is a not changing speed of the strip or ribbonshaped band material I as the same is being wound; also a substantially constant pull tension of the material. To maintain constant the running speed of the material and the pull tension thereof, the shaft ends of spindles 37 and 38 are used for varying the transmission ratio of gearings I9 and 20, respectively, as will be more fully explained in connection with FIG. 3.

FIGS. 3, 3A and 3B illustrate the speed regulation of the drive as shown in FIG. 2. The gearing 20 is equipped with a speed regulating device 4] including a drive motor. This device is operated via the compensating roll 12 shown in FIG. 1 and a not shown electric circuit system operated by changing the spatial position of the axis of the roll 12 by pivoting the arm mounting the roll.

The speed regulating device 41 drives via chain or sprocket gears 42 and 44 and a chain or roller belt the speed adjustment spindle 38 depending upon the pull tension or material 1 (see FIG. 1) and the thereby affected spatial position of roll 12 (see FIG. 1) either in clockwise direction or in counterclockwise direction. As a result, the speed adjusting spindle 38 effects the required driving speed of driven shaft 26 of gearings 20. As a result, the endless and pressure loaded drive belt 13 (FIG. 1) can effect a change in the rotational speed and thus a change in the circumferential speed of supply spool 7 (in FIGS. I and 2). Accordingly, the speed variable device 41 forces supply spool 7 to adapt itself automatically to a pre-selected pull tension of material I.

To permit operation and regulation of the driving device and the speed control device as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 respectively. as a unit the speed regulating spindles 37 and 38 of the two gears are sliplessly coupled by the chain gears 50, 51, 46 and the roller chains 48 and 49 as shown in FIG. 3.

The chain gear 5] is keyed to the speed regulating spindle 37 and the twin chain gear 46 is seated rotationally free on a holder 45. This holder is suitably secured to the frame 47 of the machine by fastening means such as screws (not shown The chain gear 50 is rotationally seated on rotation adjustment spindle 38. Gearing 20 is additionally equipped with a coupling device which consists of two gear couplings 52 and 53, chain gears 50 and 44, a slide means 54 for slipless coupling of ei ther one of gear couplings 52 and 53, to chain gears 44 or 50. The slide means 54 is mounted in a holder 55 to permit horizontal displacement thereof. This holder if desired can be mounted on machine frame 47 instead as shown on the gearing 20. The slide means is operable by a pressure fluid opcratcd cylinder-piston assembly 56 via pivot pin 57.

Finally, FIG. 3 shows that the speed adjustment spindle 37 of the steplessly adjustable gearing 19 is equipped with a hand wheel 58 and a gear coupling 59 serving as a locking means. If desired, the gear coupling could also be mounted as a locking member between the holder and the chain gear 46 (not shown).

The speed regulating device as shown in FIG. 3 permits manual speed adjustment of both steplessly adjustable gearings I9 and 20, namely, via hand wheel 58 without affecting the pull tension of material 1, as shown in FIG. 1. This possibility presupposes that the compensating roll 12 is in a neutral horizontal position as it is shown in FIG. 1 and that roll 12 does not send to the speed regulating device 41 any control signals for correcting the rotational speed.

In such situation, the gear coupling 59 is disconnected, the gear coupling 53 is sliplessly coupled with chain gear 50 and the gear coupling 52 is disconnected. The gear chain 44 can freely rotate on the speed adjustment spindle 38 without affecting the output speed of gearing 20. It is then possible via hand wheel 58, speed adjustment spindle 37, chain gear 51, roller chain 49, chain gear 46, roller chain 48, coupling 53, chain gear 50 and speed adjustment spindle 38, to adjust both gearings 19 and 20 for the purpose of controlling the running speed (meter per minute) of material 1 as shown in FIG. 1. Accordingly, the output speed differential between the two gearings l9 and 20 which is kept constant to effect constant pull tension at the strip or ribbon material 1 of FIG. 1 cannot be changed by accelerating or decelerating the running speed of the ma terial. The hand wheel 58 thus does not affect the pull tension of material 1.

In the event due to existing conditions a corection of the pull tension should become necessary, such correction is automatically effected as follows:

The compensating roll 12 according to FIG. 1 imparts automatically a control signal to the speed regulating device 41 to effect correction of the pull tension of the material 1 in FIG. 1 and simultaneously couples the gear coupling 52 of the chain gear 54, disconnects the coupling between the gear coupling 53 and the gear coupling 52 and locks the hand wheel 58. When the pull tension of material 1 in FIG. 1 is corrected, only the output speed of the output or driven shaft 26 of gearing 20 is thus changed. The running speed (meter per minute) of material 1 in FIG. 1 is not affected by such correction. The hand wheel 58 is blocked by gear coupling 59 and locked against any change in the running speed of material 1.

FIGS. 4 and show schematically the fully automatic separation of the strip or ribbon-shaped material (see FIG. 5), namely, the catching of the respective new lead of the material and the application of such new lead about the respectve wind up spindle 3 or a sleeve 2. Moreover, there is shown in FIG. 4 a driving device for accelerating the wind-up spindle 3 or sleeve 2 positioned, for the next wind up operation. Such spindle or sleeve must be accelerated to a rotational speed such that its circumferential speed corresponds to the running speed of material 1.

It must be assured that during the separation operation that the material 1 remains tensioned. FIG. 4 shows a device for stretching or tensioning the material as it is required during the turning of turret head 6 in the direction of arrow 8.

When the roll 2 according to FIG. 4 is fully wound with a selected length of material, the turret head 6 turns with its six wind up spindles 3 through 60. All six spindles have at their turret head 6 facing ends a drive wheel 60, the purpose and arrangement of which will be further discussed in connection with FIGS. 7, 7A, 9 and 9A.

According to FIG. 4, the finished roll 2 is in the position 71 during the turning of the turret head. The drive wheel 60 is in contact with an endless belt 72 and hence driven by the belt. The driving device for gear 60 consists of endless belt 72, belt pulleys 61 and 63 and is mounted by means of an arm 68 pivotal about a pivot axis 70. The tensioning of belt 72 as required for driving drive wheel 60 is obtained by means of a spring 69. The guide pulley 63 is coupled to driving pulley 65 which in turn is driven via a slipless driving belt 66 and a driving pulley 67. As is also shown, the driving shaft is located at the pivot pin 11 of pressure roller 5 (see FIGS. 1 and 2). As a result, endless belt 72 is also coupled with the drive means for pressure rollers 4 and 5 (see FIGS. 1 and 2). Such coupling assures that the rotational speed of drive gear 60 is always substantially the same as the rotational speed of the material changes. Moreover, slackening or tearing of material I is avoided during the afore-referred to separation of the material.

FIG. 4 further shows a device for accelerating the driving gear 60 and thus also of the wind up spindle 3 from zero speed to a rotational speed or circumferential speed which corresponds to the running speed of material 1. This device is located at the wind up spindle position 74 and consists of a preferably rubber covered driving wheel 73 driven by a suitable motor, a pivotal holder 75 mounted by an arm on a pivot pin 77 and a pressure air operated cylinder-piston mechanism 76.

Shortly after a roll or sleeve 2 leaves the position 71 in FIG. 4, during and due to the turning of turret head 6, the fully automatic separation step indicated in FIG. 5 is initiated. The driving wheel 60 which is driven by an endless belt 72 drives roll or sleeve 2 which is seated on the wind up spindle 3 thereby imparting a corresponding tension to the material travelling from spool 7 to roll or sleeve 2.

According to FIG. 5, a holder 78 pivotal about a pivot axis 80, together with adjustable and exchangeable cutting means 79 such as a knife or glowing wire is moved against the pre-tensioned material 1 by means of a pressure air operated cylinder-piston assembly 81. A clamping roller also mounted on the holder presses material 1 against the pressure roller 4 underneath the material. Cutting of material 1 occurs at point 82. Wheel 60 which is still driven, pulls the respective end 83 of the material upwardly, that is, in the direction indicated by an arrow. The driven pressure roller 4, which is the smaller one of the two pressure rollers, and the clamping roller 85 squeeze the end 84 of the material together, thereby forcing it into the rotational direction of pressure roller 4, indicated by an arrow. The clamping roller 85 is rotated in the opposite direction and thus in between pressure roller 4 and wind up spindle 3 or sleeve 2. The gap between roller 4 and spindle 3 or sleeve 2 contributes a feed-in zone which is held under pressure by the pressure air operated cylinder-piston mechanism 10.

The lead-in end 84 of the material is then fed into a feed-in zone formed by a feed-in roller 86 and sleeve 2 or spindle 3. The end 84 of the material, if necessary, is conveyed by pressurized air supplied from a nozzle 87 into a feed-in zone between pressure roller 5 and sleeve 2 or spindle 3. The lead-in end 84 of the material is now gripped by the material 1 which is conveyed by pressure roller 5 and is wound without slipping about sleeve 2 or windup spindle 3. The feed-in roller 86 is operated by a pressure air operated cylinder-piston mechanism 88.

FIG. 6 shows a driving device 94 for holding the end of the material, glueing the same for instance by a suitable adhesive covered strip, banding finished rolls or printing finished rolls wound upon sleeve 2 or directly on a wind-up spindle. The driving device comprises a rubber covered drive wheel 89, drive pulleys 91 and 93 and a belt 92; it is pivotal about the pivot axis 90 and operated by pressurized air via cylinder-piston mechanism. A drive motor for the device is not shown to simplify illustration. Device 94 drives wheel 60. FIG. 6 further shows the ends 83 and 84 of material 1 after the separation thereof has been effected.

FIGS. 7 and 7A illustrate the fully automatic removal of finished rolls from a spindle 3 and the simultaneous transfer of a conveyor band 108.

Removal of finished rolls is effected by a pull off finger 96 which is spring-supported (not shown). The finger is guided by a guiding device 97 parallel to the axis of wind up spindle 3 against the edge of sleeve 2 or the edge of spindle 3 (in the event no sleeve is used for winding up the material) in a manner such that pulling off of a finished roll from a spindle 3 is effected. The guiding device 97 is pivotally mounted on a shaft by means of an arm 98. Pivoting of pivot arm 98 removes the pull off finger 96 out of the circular path 9 of spindles 3. Arm 98 is pivotal by a pressure air operated cylinder-piston mechanism 100. Moreover, the required movement of pull off finger 96 parallel to the pivot axis of arm 98 is effected by a pressure operated cylinderpiston mechanism 105.

As already mentioned, winding of the material 1 on a sleeve 2 requires that this sleeve and the respective spindle 3 are secured against axial and rotational movement relative to each other by a locking device 107. In order to be able to withdraw a sleeve 2 with material wound up thereon from its spindle 3, the locking device 107 must be released. Such release is effected by pressing a slidable bolt 106 into the position 102. Movement of the bolt into this position is effected by a device 103 which in turn is operated by a pressure air activated cylinder-piston mechanism 104.

FIGS. 7 and 7A further show removal of the finished roll 101 by a pull off finger 96.

Finally, the figures show the movement of a spindle 3 during turning of turret head 6 through 60 from the position 109 into the position 110. Such change of the spindle 3 from position 109 to position 110 is used to count the number of finished rolls by a counter 111. If the material is wound directly upon a sleeve 2 and on changing from position 109 to position 110 the spindle 3 does not have a sleeve 2 thereon, a detector 1 17 stops the drive means for the winding operation.

According to FIGS. 8 and 8A a sleeve storage bin for continuously feeding sleeves to a sleeve dispensing device 122 is diagrammatically shown. In the event sleeves 2 contained in storage bin 112 are not fed to the sleeve dispenser 122 for instance due to jamming, and as a result a test opening 118 permits free passage of a beam emitted by detector 117, a sleeve feeding device is automatically activated. This device consists of four or more toothed belt pulleys 1 13 and two or more belts 114 formed with teeth on both sides. Pulleys 113 are seated on two shafts 116 and are driven by a drive means 115. The teeth on belts 114 and pulleys 115 are identical and uniformly spaced. As a result, during the feeding of sleeves from storage bin 112, the sleeves are fed by the outside teeth of belts 114 into storage bin 112 in horizontal position. The inside teeth on belt 114 and the teeth on belt pulleys 113 assure a non-slipping engagement of the pulleys with the belts.

As it is indicated in FIGS. 8 and 8A, the sleeve dispenser 122 when in the position 123 can be separated from storage bin 112 by a suitable device (not shown). Such possibility of separation assures that for one storage bin 112 several dispensing devices 122 fitting sleeves having the desired different diameters can be installed or removed as required by the operation. Exchange of a dispensing device 122 does not affect the initial position and mounting of the storage bin 112 in the device.

Finally, the figures indicate that the dispensing device 122 is provided with retaining lips 124 which can be made of steel, plastic, etc.

FIGS. 9 and 9A show a device for sliding a sleeve 2 upon a wind up spindle 3. A push-on finger 119 pushes sleeves 2 out of dispenser I22 and upon spindle 3. The sleeves are retainable on the spindles 3 in any selected position and thus in any desired position relative to the lengthwise edges of material 1.

FIGS. 9 and 9A show diagrammatically the actual sliding of a sleeve 2 on spindle 3. The sleeve is shown partly in dispensing device 122 and partly on spindle 3. It is also shown that locking bolt 106 is pressed into the position 102 so that release of the locking device as it is necessary for sliding a sleeve, is effected. The locking device is indicated at 107.

The movement of the push-on finger 119 which must occur parallel to the axis of spindle 3 is effected by a guide 97 and by pressure air operated cylinder-piston mechanism 105. Guides 97 and mechanism 105 are secured to arms and pivotal on a shaft 99. The pivotal movement of finger 119, guide 97 and pivotal arms 120 are effected by pressure air and a cylinder-piston mechanism 121.

Finally, FIGS. 9 and 9A show a device 103 for pressing in the slidable locking bolt 106 to release the locking device 107 incorporated in spindle 3. The pivotal movement of the device 103 is effected by pressure air operated cylinder-piston mechanism 104.

While the invention has been described in detail with respect to a certain now preferred example and embodiment of the invention, it will be understood by those skilled in the art, after understanding the invention, that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, and it is intended, therefore, to cover all such changes and modifications in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A fully automatic winding device for winding rolls from material in strip or ribbon form, said device comprising in combination: at least one wind-up spindle for winding thereupon a roll of the material, a first and a second pressure roller movable into engagement with material supported on said spindle for pressing material against the spindle proper or material already wound thereupon, said wind-up spindle being freely rotatable and said pressure rollers driving said spindle, and a supply spool for withdrawing material to be wound therefrom, driving of the wind-up spindle by said pressure rollers causing withdrawal of material from said supply spool, and centrally disposed variable speed power drive means coupled to said pressure rollers and said supply spool, said drive means including gearing means causing driving of the pressure rollers and the supply spool without slippage and in synchronism.

2. The device according to claim 1 wherein several wind-up spindles are rotatably supported by a rotary turret head, said spindles being movable by rotation of said turret head, one by one, into a position for winding material thereupon.

3. The device according to claim 2 wherein said wind-up spindles are disposed at uniform intervals on the circumference of a circle which is coaxial with the rotary axis of said turret head.

4. The device according to claim 2 wherein said turret head is floatingly supported.

5. The device according to claim 1 wherein carrier sleeves are fittable upon the wind-up spindles and retaining means are provided for retaining said sleeves in any selected position on the respective spindle.

6. The device according to claim 1 wherein said pressure rollers are disposed in opposition relative to each other with respect to said wind-up spindle.

7. The device according to claim 1 wherein a compensating roller is disposed between the supply spool and the first pressure roller withdrawing material from the supply spool.

8. The device according to claim 1 wherein said gearing means is arranged for driving without slippage a pivotally mounted device via a drive belt, said device effecting braking and driving of the supply spool.

9. The device according to claim 1 wherein the transmission ratio of said gearing means is jointly adjustable by means of a hand wheel.

10. The device according to claim 1 wherein said gearing means has a changeable transmission ratio, and changing of the transmission ratios of the gearing means is blocked by locking means during correction of the pull tension of the material.

11. The device according to claim 1 wherein said gearing means comprises an automatic coupling means, said coupling means including chain gears, gear couplings, a slidable member, a holder means and a cylinder-piston mechanism.

12. The device according to claim 1 wherein said gearing means is arranged for driving without slippage a pivotally mounted device via a drive belt, said device efi'ecting braking and driving of the supply spool, and wherein said belt is controllably mounted and pressure is applicable to the belt, exchange of a supply spool causing lifting of the belt to permit withdrawal and replacement of said spool.

13. The device according to claim 1 and comprising a take-off spindle for fitting the supply spool thereupon, said spindle being freely rotatably and floatingly supported.

14. The device according to claim 13 wherein said take-off spindle for the supply spool is provided with stop means.

15. The device according to claim 13 wherein the supply spool when fitted upon the take-off spindle is engageable with an abutment member, said engagement locating the edges of the supply spool and thus the material with respect to a selected distance from a frame structure of the device, thereby preventing damage to the supply spool and the material to be wound.

16. The device according to claim 15 wherein said take-ofi' spindle is mounted on a shaft, said shaft and the spindle being joined to form a laterally displaceable unit to effect control of the positioning of edges of the material to be wound.

17. The device according to claim 1 wherein several wind-up spindles are mounted on a rotatable turret head parallel to the rotational axis thereof, the ends of the spindles facing the turret head mounting a drive wheel, and wherein a drive means is provided which drives each of said spindles when the respective spindle is moved out of a wind-up position.

18. The device according to claim 17 wherein said drive means comprise at least one driven belt pulley, at least one further belt pulley and a driving belt.

19. The device according to claim 1 wherein a pinch roller is movable into engagement with the pressure roller.

20. The device according to claim 19 wherein a holding means mounts said pinch roller and a cutting means for cutting the material as a structural unit.

21. The device according to claim 19 wherein at least one feed-in means for feeding material is movable into engagement with a roll of material formed on said wind-up spindle.

22. The device according to claim 21 wherein said feed-in means is supported by a holding means and said holding means further supports a nozzle for ejecting pressurized air.

23. The device according to claim 22 wherein the pinch roller, a cutting means, said feed-in means and said nozzle for pressurized air are arranged to be selectively subjected to activation by pressure.

24. The device according to claim 1 wherein several wind-up spindles are provided to be individually driven by said pressure rollers, and wherein each spindle to be driven is accelerated to a selected wind-up speed by further drive means including a drive wheel, a pivotal holding means and a cylinder-piston pressure mechanism.

25. The device according to claim 1 and comprising means for retaining in position the free ends of a finished roll wound on the wind-up spindle to prevent unwinding or loosening of the wound up material.

26. The device according to claim 25 wherein the free ends of a finished roll are automatically held in position by retaining means.

27. The device according to claim I and comprising printing means for automatically applying print to a tinished roll.

28. The device according to claim 26 wherein a drive wheel drives the wind-up spindle into a position for retaining the free ends of a finished roll for glueing, tying or printing of ends of finished rolls.

29. The device according to claim 28 wherein drive means for driving said drive wheel comprise at least one motor, a rubber covered drive wheel, two driven wheels, a driving belt and a displaceable holding means. 

1. A fully automatic winding device for winding rolls from material in strip or ribbon form, said device comprising in combination: at least one wind-up spindle for winding thereupon a roll of the material, a first and a second pressure roller movable into engagement with material supported on said spindle for pressing material against the spindle proper or material already wound thereupon, said wind-up spindle being freely rotatable and said pressure rollers driving said spindle, and a supply spool for withdrawing material to be wound therefrom, driving of the wind-up spindle by said pressure rollers causing withdrawal of material from said supply spool, and centrally disposed variable speed power drive means coupled to said pressure rollers and said supply spool, said drive means including gearing means causing driving of the pressure rollers and the supply spool without slippage and in synchronism.
 2. The device according to claim 1 wherein several wind-up spindles are rotatably supported by a rotary turret head, said spindles being movable by rotation of said turret head, one by one, into a position for winding material thereupon.
 3. The device according to claim 2 wherein said wind-up spindles are disposed at uniform intervals on the circumference of a circle which is coaxial with the rotary axis of said turret head.
 4. The device according to claim 2 wherein said turret head is floatingly supported.
 5. The device according to claim 1 wherein carrier sleeves are fittable upon the wind-up spindles and retaining means are provided for retaining said sleeves in any selected position on the respective spindle.
 6. The device according to claim 1 wherein said pressure rollers are disposed in opposition relative to each other with respect to said wind-up sPindle.
 7. The device according to claim 1 wherein a compensating roller is disposed between the supply spool and the first pressure roller withdrawing material from the supply spool.
 8. The device according to claim 1 wherein said gearing means is arranged for driving without slippage a pivotally mounted device via a drive belt, said device effecting braking and driving of the supply spool.
 9. The device according to claim 1 wherein the transmission ratio of said gearing means is jointly adjustable by means of a hand wheel.
 10. The device according to claim 1 wherein said gearing means has a changeable transmission ratio, and changing of the transmission ratios of the gearing means is blocked by locking means during correction of the pull tension of the material.
 11. The device according to claim 1 wherein said gearing means comprises an automatic coupling means, said coupling means including chain gears, gear couplings, a slidable member, a holder means and a cylinder-piston mechanism.
 12. The device according to claim 1 wherein said gearing means is arranged for driving without slippage a pivotally mounted device via a drive belt, said device effecting braking and driving of the supply spool, and wherein said belt is controllably mounted and pressure is applicable to the belt, exchange of a supply spool causing lifting of the belt to permit withdrawal and replacement of said spool.
 13. The device according to claim 1 and comprising a take-off spindle for fitting the supply spool thereupon, said spindle being freely rotatably and floatingly supported.
 14. The device according to claim 13 wherein said take-off spindle for the supply spool is provided with stop means.
 15. The device according to claim 13 wherein the supply spool when fitted upon the take-off spindle is engageable with an abutment member, said engagement locating the edges of the supply spool and thus the material with respect to a selected distance from a frame structure of the device, thereby preventing damage to the supply spool and the material to be wound.
 16. The device according to claim 15 wherein said take-off spindle is mounted on a shaft, said shaft and the spindle being joined to form a laterally displaceable unit to effect control of the positioning of edges of the material to be wound.
 17. The device according to claim 1 wherein several wind-up spindles are mounted on a rotatable turret head parallel to the rotational axis thereof, the ends of the spindles facing the turret head mounting a drive wheel, and wherein a drive means is provided which drives each of said spindles when the respective spindle is moved out of a wind-up position.
 18. The device according to claim 17 wherein said drive means comprise at least one driven belt pulley, at least one further belt pulley and a driving belt.
 19. The device according to claim 1 wherein a pinch roller is movable into engagement with the pressure roller.
 20. The device according to claim 19 wherein a holding means mounts said pinch roller and a cutting means for cutting the material as a structural unit.
 21. The device according to claim 19 wherein at least one feed-in means for feeding material is movable into engagement with a roll of material formed on said wind-up spindle.
 22. The device according to claim 21 wherein said feed-in means is supported by a holding means and said holding means further supports a nozzle for ejecting pressurized air.
 23. The device according to claim 22 wherein the pinch roller, a cutting means, said feed-in means and said nozzle for pressurized air are arranged to be selectively subjected to activation by pressure.
 24. The device according to claim 1 wherein several wind-up spindles are provided to be individually driven by said pressure rollers, and wherein each spindle to be driven is accelerated to a selected wind-up speed by further drive means including a drive wheel, a pivotal holding means and a cylinder-piston pressure mechanism.
 25. The device according to claim 1 and comprising means for retaining in position the free ends of a finished roll wound on the wind-up spindle to prevent unwinding or loosening of the wound up material.
 26. The device according to claim 25 wherein the free ends of a finished roll are automatically held in position by retaining means.
 27. The device according to claim 1 and comprising printing means for automatically applying print to a finished roll.
 28. The device according to claim 26 wherein a drive wheel drives the wind-up spindle into a position for retaining the free ends of a finished roll for glueing, tying or printing of ends of finished rolls.
 29. The device according to claim 28 wherein drive means for driving said drive wheel comprise at least one motor, a rubber covered drive wheel, two driven wheels, a driving belt and a displaceable holding means. 